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Poirot was an extraordinary looking little man He was hardly reat dignity His head was exactly the shape of an egg, and he always perched it a little on one side His moustache was very stiff and military The neatness of his attire was almost incredible I believe a speck of dust would have caused him more pain than a bullet wound Yet this quaint dandyfied little man who, I was sorry to see, now limped badly, had been in his tiian police As a detective, his flair had been extraordinary, and he had achieved triu cases of the day

He pointed out to ians, and I proo and see him at an early date Then he raised his hat with a flourish to Cynthia, and we drove away

"He's a dear little man," said Cynthia "I'd no idea you knew hi a celebrity unawares," I replied

And, for the rest of the way home, I recited to them the various exploits and triumphs of Hercule Poirot

We arrived back in a very cheerful lethorp came out of her boudoir She looked flushed and upset

"Oh, it's you," she said

"Is there anything the matter, Aunt Elethorp sharply "What should there be?" Then catching sight of Dorcas, the parlour some stamps into the boudoir

"Yes, m'm" The old servant hesitated, then added diffidently: "Don't you think,very tired"

"Perhaps you're right, Dorcas--yes--no--not now I've sohted the fire in o to bed directly after supper"

She went into the boudoir again, and Cynthia stared after her

"Goodness gracious! I wonder what's up?" she said to Lawrence

He did not seem to have heard her, for without a word he turned on his heel and went out of the house

I suggested a quick ga, I ran upstairs to fetchdown the stairs Itodd and disturbed